Dr Muhammad Khan
CHINESE President Mr Xi Jinping has once again reiterated the traditional friendship with Pakistan. In a recent letter to President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, Mr Xi Jinping said that, China is ready to work with Pakistan and to deepen the building of China-Pakistan community of shared future and to jointly promote cooperation among regional countries. The larger context of this message is that, Pakistan and China must enhance the momentum of working together for two major objectives; one; peace and stability in the region and two; socio-economic development of the regional countries. With respect to regional peace, President Xi Jinping understand and acknowledges the role, Pakistan has played in first two decades of 21st century. Sequel to US invasion in Afghanistan in 2001, the broader region of South and Central Asia was badly hit the terrorism. The effects of this terrorism were felt in the Xinjiang autonomous region of China. Besides, the presence of US and NATO forces after fall of Taliban Government spread the menace of terrorism all around. Pakistan was the worst hit country, where terrorists attacked; armed forces locations, the public gatherings, institutions and government installations.
As a decisive measures, Pak Army in collaboration with sister services and civil armed forces conducted many military operations in terrorist hit areas; the former FATA region, Balochistan and Swat-Malakand areas. By 2015, Pak Army was closing on to the last hideouts of the terrorists. Pakistani military has established peace and stability in and around its geographical boundaries of Pakistan by 2016. It also helped drawdown of US and NATO forces, which were delimited by the Taliban in almost all parts of Afghanistan. The 150,000 US and NATO forces armed with latest arsenals and surveillance system were indeed bogged-down by Taliban in Afghanistan. Pakistani military did what rest of the world could not do against the menace of terrorism. Chinese President understands the bravery and professionalism of Pakistani military. In the field of security, Pak-China collaboration will further enhance the chances of establishing peace and stability in the region.
The Socio-economic development is the next target which both Pakistan and China are eying at. Indeed, one of the contributory factors in the spread of terrorism is the lack of socio-economic development. As witnessed in past two decades, the areas with less economic development were more hit by terrorism and extremism. The international and regional forces through their spying networks can better exploit the deprived classes compared to developed areas. Therefore, in order to maintain regional peace and create opportunities for economic prosperity, there is need to work on both aspects simultaneously. By enhancing the “momentum of peace and development in the region” the extremists and militant forces can be reduced reasonably.
Since China has envisioned a global project of connecting entire world; east to west and north to south through its Belt and Road Initiative, therefore, it immediately needs regional peace and economic development. In order to establish regional peace, Pakistan is the key state with a pivotal geopolitical location. Any development in Asian Continent can best be implemented through Pakistan. The geopolitics of Pakistan had made it a unique country; the geographical Pivot. Geopolitical position of Pakistan cannot be over looked by any major power or the nations sweating to become global power centre. This location had key significance for past great games and it became critical for any future dominance of the world. It was in the same context that, despite US ignoring Pakistan, the super power had to re-engage with Pakistan for a deal with Afghan Taliban, indeed a Non State Actor. The Pakistani strategists must plan to accrue the maximum benefits from its geopolitical location.
Pakistan highly appreciates the sentiments of President Xi, who restated that, China and Pakistan were “good brothers” and partners, and had a “special friendship”. For China Pakistan is a key state. It was Pakistan which provided China with the aerial corridor in the decades of its isolation from rest of world (until 1970s). It was again Pakistan which paved the way for the Chinese membership of United Nations Security Council (P-5) through its diplomatic overture in early 1970s. Today, it is Pakistan again which provided a land corridor to China for the security of its energy resources and promotion of trade and commerce all over the globe. The success of landmark Chinese project Belt and Road Initiative (BRl) depends on the successful completion of CPEC. At the level of China and Pakistan, CPEC is of great significance to the further development of the China-Pakistan All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and the building of a closer China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has just completed his two-day official visit of China. Mr Qureshi has discussed with his Chinese counterpart the key issues; facing both countries; They debated the views of both countries on; coronavirus pandemic, bilateral relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest. It was also agreed that, “to collectively take measures to safeguard their common interests and promote peace, prosperity, and development in the region”. Pakistan also reiterated its support to China on affairs concerning China’s core interests and issues of major concern “such as those related to Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong”. China supported the Pakistani stance on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. Indeed, a strong and continued collaboration between Pakistan and China is pre-requisite for establishment of peace and economic development in the region.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
